Auxiliary New Member Course - United States Coast …

1 Auxiliary New Member Course STUDENT study guide PUBLISHED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY COMDTPUB 10/2011 1 NEW Member Course - STUDENT study guide TABLE OF CONTENTS PROLOGUE ..02 CHAPTER 1 ..04 CHAPTER 2 ..06 CHAPTER 3 ..07 CHAPTER 4 ..08 CHAPTER 5 ..11 CHAPTER 6 ..12 CHAPTER 7 ..13 CHAPTER 8 ..14 CHAPTER 9 ..15 CHAPTER 10 ..16 CHAPTER 11 ..17 APPENDIX FORMS Note: The following forms may be downloaded at ENROLLMENT APPLICATION (ANSC-7001) ENROLLMENT ID CARD FORM ACTIVITY REPORT - MISSION (ANSC-7030) Member ACTIVITY LOG (ANSC-7029) CHANGE OF Member INFORMATION (ANSC-7028) DIRECT DEPOSIT FORM FOR FAX OR MAIL (FMS2231-CGAUX) Link to Finance Center Direct Deposit ( Member Payment Enrollment Form)

2 2 INTRODUCTION The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is a volunteer service organization, open to both men and women who are citizens of the United States , its territories and possessions, and who are age seventeen or older. The purpose of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard in any of its missions except where prohibited by statute, such as in direct law enforcement and military actions. Auxiliarists are proud of their membership and training. When you wear the uniform or fly the Auxiliary Ensign, you are a Member of Team Coast Guard.

3 Your actions as a Member of this organization will reflect directly on the United States Coast Guard. In many areas, you will be the Coast Guard s only link with the public. This recognition is a PRIVILEGE as well as a RESPONSIBILITY. As the volunteer arm of the Coast Guard, we volunteer time, talents, boats, radios, and aircraft. We are given special training in order to work effectively with the Coast Guard. The fellowship and satisfaction accompanying our activities are also a benefit from our service. To aid you in your understanding of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and its missions, you will be referred to the Auxiliary Manual, COMDTINST (series) for additional information and help you answer many questions in this study guide .

4 It will answer virtually all questions that you might have about the Auxiliary and how it functions. The Auxiliary Manual can be found on the Auxiliary web site (Manuals section) at Information is also available in the New Member Reference guide . Since the information in that reference guide does not always correspond to the chapters in this study guide , you may need to leave some questions unanswered until locating the information. During the exam, you may use the Student study guide with the New Member Reference guide and/or Auxiliary Manual.

5 3 PROLOGUE HISTORY OF THE United States Coast GUARD (USCG) The history of the Coast Guard is almost as old as that of the United States . On 4 August 1790, President George Washington signed a bill passed by Congress, authorizing the construction of ten boats; this was the beginning of the Coast Guard. First named the Revenue Marine, and then changed to the Revenue Cutter Service, its mission was to guard the new country s coastline against smugglers. On 28 January 1915, President Woodrow Wilson approved the act authorizing the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the Lifesaving Service, which was a logical consolidation since both services had worked closely together within the Treasury Department for nearly a century.

6 Their common aim had been to protect life and property from the ravages of the sea. The new service was named the United States Coast Guard. As provided in the Congressional Act of 28 January 1915, the Coast Guard is a military service at all times a branch of the armed forces of the United States . Because of this status, in times of war or whenever so directed by the President, the Coast Guard operates as a separate service under the Department of the Navy, at which time the Commandant reports to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations.

7 On 1 April 1967, after nearly 177 years in the Treasury Department, the Coast Guard moved to the new Department of Transportation. Then on 1 March 2003, the Coast Guard moved again, this time to the new Department of Homeland Security. The Commandant, as Chief of the Service, is responsible to the Secretary, who, as a Member of the President s cabinet, gives the Coast Guard top representation in the Executive Branch of the government. The overall authority for Coast Guard Auxiliary administration is vested by law in the Commandant.

8 The Coast Guard has a wide variety of missions. Properly trained Auxiliarists assist with many of these, a summary of which follows: SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR): One of the oldest missions, rescuing those in peril at sea has priority over all other Coast Guard peacetime missions. The purpose of this mission is to reduce loss of life, injury, and property damage on the high seas and in waters. PORTS, WATERWAYS, AND COASTAL SECURITY (PWCS): The aim of this program is to safeguard the nation s ports, waterways, waterfront facilities, vessels, personnel, and property, and to prevent accidental or intentional damage, disruption, destruction, or injury.

9 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (MEP): This program is intended to lessen the damage caused by pollutants released in the coastal zone. It also aids in national and international pollution response planning and makes every effort to recover the cost of such a response to the federal government. ICE OPERATIONS (ICEOPS): Conducting both polar and domestic ice operations, the Coast Guard is the only federal agency operating icebreakers, which provide logistical and oceanographic support to a number of other programs. It also conducts the International Ice Patrol, which was started in 1912 after the ocean liner TITANIC struck an iceberg and sank.

10 NAVIGATION SYSTEMS (NS): This program sets up, operates, and maintains aids to navigation throughout the United States and in other areas of the world. 4 MARINE SAFETY (MS): Two major activities comprise this program. Commercial Vessel Safety (CVS) affects those engaged in commercial or scientific activity in the marine environment. The mission of the Recreational Boating Safety Program (RBS) includes activities of the Auxiliary conducted on behalf of the federal, state, and local governments to improve the knowledge, skills, and operating environment of the recreational boater.